Dried split peas and method of treating same



M y 946. L. WERIS 2,4

DRIED SPLIT PEAS AND METHOD OF TREATING SAME Filed May 2, 1942 LEOLWERTS,

INVENTOR.

- Z/ZL Patented May 14, 1946 DRIED SPLIT PEAS AND METHOD OF TREATING SAME Leo L. Werts, Moscowfldaho Application May 2, 1942, Serial No. 441,490

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a method and .apparatus for treating dried split peas to enhance their appearance as a food product.

, In the usual processing treatment, the drying action and the relatively long period in which the. dried product stands in bins or packages before reaching the ultimate consumer result in a color change or deterioration which lessens the eye appeal of the product.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple andefficient method of preserving the natural fresh color of garden peas after they have been converted into dried split peas.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a method of treating dried split peas which imparts a high luster to their surfaces, bringing out and enhancing the natural color thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for the treatment of dried split peas which is durable, efficient, and economical in operation. 7

Other objects reside in novel details of construction and novel steps and treatments, all of which will appear more fully in the course of the following description.

In performing the process of the present invention, a surface coating material is applied to the dried split peas and thereafter the coated surfaces are subjected to a polishing action imparting a glossy luster to the peas.

While various materials may be chosen as the coating medium, I have found that finely divided particles of talc'in suspension in a liquid carrier vehicle such as water, will coat the surfaces of the peas and produce a sticky surface condition. Thereafter, if this sticky product is subjected to a tumbling action in which the individual pea sections are brought in repeated rubbing contact with other such sections, the accumulative effect of the repetitions of such action is to impart a high polish to the pea surfaces without leaving thereon any appreciable quantity of the mineral which might be considered undesirable from a food value standpoint.

While the process is susceptible of performance in a variety of ways, the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawing has proved to be well suited to carry out the objects of the invention. To facilitate understanding of the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawing in the several views of which like parts have been designated similarly and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying features of the invention and partially broken to show the arrangement of parts on the interior;

Figure 2 is a section taken along the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the structure of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrow 3 thereof and partially broken away to illustrate features of the interior arrangement; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary end view corresponding to Figure 3 and drawn to an enlarged scale to illustrate details of the discharge control.

The apparatus illustrated in Figurel comprises a cylindrical mill 4 having at intervals along its outer surface, rims 5 which seat upon co-acting flanged rollers 6 mounted on parallel shafts l suitably journalled as indicated at 8.

The shafts I are rotated by a suitable prime mover (not shown) through the intermediary of a gear assembly 9, and the entire assembly preferably is mounted on a suitable base element II) as indicated in the drawing. At one end, the mill 4 is apertured to receive a feeding device I2, while its opposite end is provided with a discharge outlet 13 concentric with the feeding device l2.

The feeding device comprises a screw conveyor inclusive of a tubular conduit portion having a screw element 14 mounted for rotation in its interior and driven by a suitable prime mover (not shown) through the intermediary Of a sheave l5. This screw conveyor I2 is suitably supported from the base H! or other supporting surface by legs [6. A feed hopper I! is provided at the end of the screw conveyor remote from the mill and adjacent to the hopper a tank l8 provided with a suitable agitator I9 communicates with the tubular conduit portion [2.

The interior wall of the mill supports a series of flights or baflles 20 disposed about the circumference of the cylinder in groups, which in the arrangement illustrated in Figure 1 are designated A, B and C.

Preferably, these baflles 2|] are short members of L-shaped section, usually wood, which are formed to fit the contour of the mill, so that the entire base part will bear against the surface of the mill. The upstanding flanged part thus acts as a baflie to direct movement of the contents of the mill. If desired, rectangularly-sh'aped blocks may be used in place of the angle members, and the projecting sides of these members will serve to impart the desired movement to the peas.

As indicated in Figure l, the flights 20 of a given group A, B or C are spaced apart and disposed at an inclination to the horizontal, with those of group A having the greatest inclination, those of group B a lesser inclination and those of group C the least inclination. Any suitable methd of fastening may be employed, such as welding or bolting.

This arrangement of flights functions as a spiral conveyor during rotation of the mill 4, and the material is moved rapidly away from the feed end and then the rate of movement decreases as it approaches the discharge end. The flights also promote tumbling of the split peas in their movement through the mill insuring repeated rubbing contact between the individual pieces.

Matter reaching the discharge end of mill 4 passes through discharge outlet l3 and then goes to a. fina1 screening operation for separation of pea fragments and finely divided foreign matter from the polished split pea sections constituting the market product. A fragment of screen is shown at 2| in Figure 1 to diagrammatically represent this operation.

While the apparatus is designed for continuous operation, it will be necessary from time-to-time to stop it and clean out the interior. For this reason, the discharge end or head of the mill 4 preferably is provided with a series of slots 25 at intervals adjacent its periphery and a gate 22 is mounted in cleats 24 for sliding movement relative'to each slot and is normally held in the closed position shown in Figure 3 by a screw 23.

When clean-outs are required, the gates 22 are moved to the positions indicated in Figure 4 and thereafter additional rotation will serve to discharge all the contents from the mill 4.

The operation of the apparatus so far described involves rotation of shafts I which drive rollers 6 and impart a slow continuous rotation to mill 4. Finely-divided tale in water suspension is continuously supplied through tank I8 to screw conveyor l2, and at the same time dried split peas are continuously supplied through hopper I! to conveyor l2.

Proper proportioning of ingredients is important in attaining the desired results, and I have found that good results are obtained when the talc-Water mixture is produced in the proportion of two pounds tale to eight gallons of water, and the resulting mixture proportioned to one ton of split peas in the conveyor 12.

The agitator I9 is operated continuously to prevent settling of talc particles in tank l8 and the mixing action imparted by screw M in moving the feed through conveyor 12 serves to prevent floc formation and thoroughly surface-coat the pea sections before delivery into the mill.

Thereafter the tumbling action within the mill serves to subject the individual pieces to a succession of rubbing actions, as a result of which no mineral, or only an extremely small amount thereof is left on the pea surfaces, but a high polish is imparted to such surfaces, serving to restore or preserve the natural color of the pea. The glossy luster thus produced serves to greatly enhance the eye appeal of the product.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the operation of the apparatus described provides a simple and efficient method of preservin the natural fresh color of garden peas after they have been converted into dried split peas, and in so doing also imparts a high-luster polish to their surfaces which serves to enhance the appearance.

While the structure described in its basic organization is essential to the performance of the process, it will be understood that many structural modifications may be resorted to without changing the fundamental character of the apparatus. Therefore, changes and modifications may be availed of within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the hereunto appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of treating dried split peas, which comprises surface coating split pea surfaces with a finely-divided talc and water mixture, and subjecting the coated peas to a succession of tumbling movements to polish the surfaces so coated.

2. The method of treating dried split peas, which comprises surface coating split pea surfaces with a finely-divided talc and water mixture, and subjecting a mass of the coated peas to a succession of tumbling movements during a progressive movement through a confined zone.

3. The method of treating dried split peas, which comprises surface coating spilt pea surfaces with a finely-divided talc and water mixture, and subjecting the coated peas to a succession of rubbing actions to polish the surfaces so coated 4. The method of treating dried split peas, which comprises mixing dried split peas with a water suspension of finely-divided talc, agitating the resulting intermixture to surface coat the peas, and subjecting the peas after coating to a succession of tumbling movements to polish the surfaces so coated.

5. The method of treating dried split peas, which comprises mixing in proportions of one ton of dried split peas with a water suspension of finely-divided talc containing approximately two pounds of talc to eight gallons of water, agitating the resulting intermixture to surface coat the peas, and subjecting the peas after coating to a succession of tumbling movements to polish the surfaces so coated.

6. The method of treating dried split peas, which comprises agitating dried split peas with an aqueous suspension of talc in finely divided condition to surface-coat the peas, and then subjecting the coated peas to a tumbling action to remove adhering solids in a polishing movement which restores the natural luster to the peas.

7. The method of treating dried split peas, which comprises suspending talc in finely divided condition in sufficient water to make a fluent body of sticky consistency, surface-coating dried split peas with the sticky material, and then subject ing the coated peas to a tumbling action to remove adhering solids in a polishing movement which restores the natural luster to the peas.

LEO L. WERTS. 

